It’s My Turn Response to Congressman Weiner: Why We Should All Be Angry

By Bob Turner Candidate For Congress

Bob Turner Bob Turner is the RepublicanChallenger to CongressmanWeiner for the 9thCD. He is a semi-retiredbusiness executive and lifelongresident of the 9th CD.

Dear Mr. Weiner, I read your op-ed titled “why we should all be angry” defending your recent tirade on the House floor.

As the Republican challenger for the seat you have held for a decade, I want to offer a perspective shared by many of your constituents.

Mr. Weiner, we are angry because our Congressman represents everything that is wrong with Washington right now. Your tirade on the house floor was a disgraceful display of theatrics and nothing more. As the Democratic Whip, you were well aware of what the outcome would be when you required a two-thirds vote to pass the 9/11 First Responders Health Care Bill.

You knew full well, Mr. Weiner, that you would not get the votes needed to pass the bill due to the provision for illegal aliens. The democrats have the majority to pass any bill. But, you decided to stack the deck and then inexplicably attacked Peter King who not only voted for the bill, but worked on the bill for over four years. It was a disgraceful display of hypocrisy, as you screamed what a shame it was for your Republican colleagues not to do what’s right for the heroes. Yet, you were exploiting the very heroes you claimed to support for your own political gain.

Your Democratic colleague, Robert Zimmerman put it best as he criticized your tired routine by saying “Our legislators are defining their credibility and effectiveness by the number of YouTube hits and sound bites that are generated.” And you tell us why we should all be angry?

Your political spin machine is always hard at work. You send out promotional mailers that misrepresent you as a fighter for the middle class and small businesses. And this false advertising is paid for by the taxpayers. You are an avid supporter of President Obama’s failed economic policies. You voted against middle class families and small businesses by supporting the enormous tax increases taking place in 2011. Your unyielding support of the poorly constructed health care reform bill will place an enormous burden on small businesses and taxpayers.

You speak out against wasteful spending, but your actions speak otherwise. You are one of the few US congressmen who accepted a car lease paid for by the taxpayers. You also voted for a pay raise for yourself in 2009, during a looming economic crisis. And you tell us why we should all be angry?

I was surprised when I saw that you have already filed to run for Mayor of NYC in 2013. Are you so confident in your Congressional seat that you can afford to position yourself for another mayoral run on the backs of those you are supposed to be representing? Your federal earmarks speak volumes of your mayoral aspirations. Right here in Queens we need federal funding for Riis Park reparations. You ignore our needs, but you are able to secure millions in federal funding for the gay, lesbian and trans-gender community in lower Manhattan. As our elected representative, your time and energy should be spent on programs within the 9th District. And you tell us why we should all be angry?

As you continue to position yourself for your next job, you ignore the feelings of your own people. You praise Bloomberg for his support of the Ground Zero Mosque while your own district is overwhelmingly opposed. You fully support the trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed in a Manhattan courtroom. Mr. Weiner, as one of the most liberal politicians in New York, you are radically out of touch with the values and patriotism of the middle class families in Brooklyn and Queens.

Mr. Weiner, we are angry because our Congressman is a career politician, a self promoting showman who lacks real world experience, has zero business sensibility and whose only motivation is to further his political career at the expense of those who he is paid to represent.

As a non-politician challenger to your seat, I cannot match your name recognition, political muscle or funding. But what I do have on my side is the will of the majority in the 9th CD. I am the voice of the people that you are supposed to represent and it is time for you to go.